Rotary distributor means and method

ABSTRACT

A rotary distributor apparatus with inclined conduits, stream dividers and multiple discharge ports and method are provided for uniformly distributing particulate material in a vessel for subsequent processing.

United States Patent [191 Bottoms 1 Dec. 25,1973

ROTARY DISTRIBUTOR MEANS AND METHOD Inventor: Garrell C. Bottoms, PoncaCity,

Okla.

Assignee: Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla.

Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 296,506

US. Cl. 214/17 CB, 193/3, 193/23,

214/152, 239/688 Int. Cl. 865g 65/32 Field of Search 214/17 CB, 152;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,954 10/1940 Geigeret'al..... 214/17 CB 3,703,241 11/1972 Kelly et al. 214/17 CB X PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Joseph C. Kotarski et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A rotary distributor apparatus with inclined conduits,stream dividers and multiple discharge ports and method are provided foruniformly distributing particulate material in a vessel for subsequentprocessing.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Llllllllllllllllllll' ROTARY DISTRIBUTORMEANS AND METHOD The process and apparatus of this invention relates tohandling particulate materials and particularly to uniform distributionwithin a vessel by amount and particle size for subsequent processing,such as aqueous acid leaching of mineral values from ore particles.

In various fields of art such as sludge processing, silage storage andore processing there are numerous means for handling particulate.Typical means are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 797,073; 805,128; 833,704;2,940,573; 3,064,833 and 3,446,372. These means are complicated andinadequate for handling particulate material for subsequent processing.

The method and apparatus of this invention provide a simple inexpensivesystem for handling particulate material. The material can be uniformlydistributedin a vessel with by amount and by particle size radially froman axis of rotation at each level in the vessel. This uniformdistribution make subsequent processing more efficient and effectivethan with previous distribution methods.

By this invention there is provided a distributor means for uniformlydistributing particulate material into a vessel so that the material hasa substantially uniform particle size distribution at each level in thevessel radially from a vertical axis of rotation of said distributormeans, said distributor means comprising a bearing means for rotablysupporting a distributing conduit means; a drive means for rotating saiddistributing means; a receiving means connected to and communicatingwith said distributing means to transfer said particulate material froma separate source to said distributing conduit means at a controlledproportionate rate; and said distributing conduit means comprising atleast one conduit inclined downwardly from the inlet end at theconnection with the receiving means, at least one of said conduitshaving at least two ports at different distances from said inlet end,each of said ports except a terminal end port having at least onedivider to divide a stream of particulate material passing downwardlythrough said conduit into a predetermined number of portions with eachportion being a predetermined portion of the stream and each portionhaving approximately the same particle size distribution as each otherportion.

The method ofthis invention embodies the principles of a preferredapparatus of this invention; it provides a process for uniformlydistributing a particulate material into a vessel so that the materialhas a substantially uniform particle size distribution at each level inthe vessel radially from a vertical axis of rotation of a rotarydistributor means said distributor means comprising a receiving meansconnected to and communicating with a distributing conduit means, abearing means, a drive means, divider means and discharge ports; saidprocess comprising transferring said particulate material from aseparate source into the receiving means of said distributor means, saiddistributor means being rotatably supported by said bearing means;rotating said distributor means by said drive means; transferring astream of said particulate material from said receiving means todistributing conduit means at a controlled proportionate rate, saiddistributing conduit means having at least one conduit inclineddownwardly from the inlet end at the connection with the receiving, atleast one of said distributing conduit means having at least twodischarge ports at different distances from said inlet end, each of saidports excepta terminal end port having at least one divider, saiddistributor means having a divider at the inlet of the distributingconduit means; dividing the particulate stream at the inlet of thedistributing conduit means into a number of portions with the portionscorresponding to the conduits and each portion having substantially thesame particle size distribution as each other portion; transferring eachportion downwardly along each respective conduit; dividing each portionalong the conduit into portions corresponding to the discharge portsalong the conduit and discharging each portion from the correspondingport into the vessel at the preselected distance from said verticalaxis.

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a preferred two conduit r0- tary distributor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a two conduit rotary distributor.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a three conduit distributor.

FIG. 4 is a plan and elevation view of a portion of a conduit showing atypical center port construction.

One unique feature of the process and apparatus of this invention is thecombination and interaction of particulate stream splitters, referred toherein as dividers and designated by (7) in the drawings and dischargeports located at various positions along the conduits. The dividers aresized and located in the conduit to divide the particulate intopredetermined portions with each portion discharged through acorresponding port to place the desired proportion of the stream at aparticular place in the vessel. Each divider can be located adjacent thecorresponding port and the stream can be divided in successiveoperations. In an alternative embodiment, a divider can be extendedupstream so that the particulate stream is divided into several portionsat one point in the conduit. The discharge ports are preferably of openor non-clogging construction. Preferred ports can be side ports, centerports and terminal end ports.

With the open port construction, extension of dividers upstream anddownstream strengthens the conduit. With short dividers and more thanthree ports, i.e., two or more side ports, the dividing operation iseffective to produce successive portions having substantially the sameparticle size distribution because although the particulate stream isstratified by particle size this stratification extends substantiallyacross the conduit. Thus, a sample taken from the stream flowing down aconduit by a vertical divider is a representative sample and thestratification by particle size extends across the conduit again afterthe stream flows past the divider. Configuration of the conduit effectsthe degree to which each particle size layer extends across the conduit.For example with round conduits the five particle size layer would be atthe bottom of the stream, with medium size particles in the middle andlarge particles on top. The five particle size layer would not be aswide as the medium particle size layer and the medium size layer wouldnot be as wide as the large particle layer. With a divider locatedlaterally across the conduit near the center of the conduit thisdifference in width of the particle layers has little effect on particlesize distribution of the various portions. With conduit having a curvedbottom this layer effect can be used to divide a stream into portionswith the portions from near the side of the stream having a largerportion of large particles than portions from near the center which havea high percentage of fines. With square, rectangular or flat bottomconduits the particle layers extend substantially across the conduit.After a splitting or dividing operation some distance along the conduitis required for the particle rolling or mixing action of the stream todistribute the particle size layers across the conduit. This distance isnot critical but is preferably at least about 1-2 conduit diameters. Therequirement for this mixing action can be avoided by placing successivedividers and ports on opposite sides of the conduit or in the center ofthe conduit so that each fraction or portion has the desireddistribution.

As used herein, substantially uniform particle distribution means thateachportion separated from a flowing stream in a conduit hasapproximately the same particle size distributionas the stream exceptwhere a device is used to alter that distribution, e.g., screening ofthe portion. The particle size distribution is determined by anystandard method such as ASTM, U.S. Bureau of Mines or Ro-Tap screeningmethods using Standard Tyleror U.S. Sieve seriesscreens. These methodsand the comparison of-the particle size distributions as designatedherein are subject to the influence of convention variables and the samedegree of accuracy.

The dividers can be located at various positions, i.e., lateral distancefrom the vertical center line across the conduit, to separate portionsof the desired quantity as well as particle size distribution. Likewise,conventional methods, such as screening and grinding, can be used withthe process and apparatus of this invention to separate a portion with aparticular particle size distribution.

The conduits, ports and other passages of the apparatus of thisinvention are preferably of open construction to prevent clogging,permit easy cleaning and to give easy access to the interior passages ofthe apparatus. This open construction is illustrated by the side ports(8), center port (18) and terminal port (9) shown in the drawings. Sideport (8) as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings comprises a notch inthe side of the conduit (3) so that the conduit is open to the top andside as well as the bottom. Likewise. centerport (18) in FIG. 4 is openat the top as well as the bottom to permit easy inspection and access tothe conduit.

With open construction ports the dividers (7) are preferably extendedupstream and downstream to strengthen the conduit. These features arenot critical and can be modified by one skilled in the art in view ofthis disclosure. The parts of the apparatus of this invention can beconstructed of conventional materials by conventional methods in view ofthis disclosure. Abra sion resistant material is preferred for abrasiveparticulate material. For dusty particulate material removable coverscan be used for these ports and to cover receiver means (2) allowingopenings where necessary for material to enter and discharge.

A preferred distributor means (1) of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1and 2. In operation of this distributor means receiving means (2) anddistributing conduits (3) are supported by hearing means comprising aconventional bearing (5) and a fixed support (4). Optional dust shield(6) is shown over bearing (5). Drive means rotates the receiving means(2) and distributing conduits (3) at about 0.25-5 revolutions per minute(RPM) and preferably about 0.5-3 RPM. The speed of rotation will dependupon the flow rate of the particulate matter through the distributormeans, the number of ports the length of the conduits and thecharacteristics of the particulate material. A chain drive mechanism isshown but any conventional drive mechanism can be used such as shaft andgear, belt, or adjacent motor and gearing. Any conventional motor suchas electric or pneumatic can be used.

With the distributor means in operation particulate material istransferred into receiving means (2) from a separate source (not shown)such as a belt conveyor or bucket elevator. Flow of the particulatematerial is regulated by the shape, size and discharge opening size ofthe receiving means (2). A simple hopper construction is shown whichrapidly transfers the particulate material downwardly by gravity overdivider (21) at the inlet end of the distributing conduits (3). Divider(21) sepa rates the stream of particulate material into twoapproximately equal streams with one stream flowing downwardly throughthe corresponding inclined conduit (3). Each conduit is inclined atangle (19) so that the particulate material flows by gravity through theconduit. The minimum angle of inclination is equal to the angle ofrepose for the particulate material which can be determined bystandardmethods. The angle (14) is at least 45 and preferably Angles of lessthan 45 can be used in certain cases where the speed of rotation andother methods for increasing flow such as vibrators are used. Largeangles of inclination are preferred for material which tends to stickand for high flow rates.

The stream of particulate material flows downwardly through each conduitwhere it is divided into two portions by divider (7). These portions areapproximately equal and are discharged from the two side ports (8) andtwo end terminal ports (9). Each of the two side ports is located at adifferent distance (10) and (11) from the inlet end and axis of rotationof the distributor means so that portions discharged from these portsfall at different points into the vessel (not shown) beneath thedistributor. Distances (l2) and (13) between the inlet end and the twoterminal end ports (9) are the same but these distances can bedifferent. For different terminal port discharge distances the conduitscan be of different lengths, different slopes or can have side or bottomopening ports at any desired point. The conduits should be balanced sothat the bearing (5) carries only a substantially vertical weight orforce and no appreciable lateral frce or torque. Reaction force ofmaterial discharging from the side ports can not be used practically torotate the conduits with open construction ports and any reaction forcesare preferably balanced against each other by alternating side portsfrom one side to the other.

FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the distributor means ofthis invention having an equal three way divider (14) which transfersportions of the particulate material to three conduits having lengths(15), (16) and (17). These lengths can be the same, different or anydesired combination.

FIG. 4 shows the detail construction of a center opening port (18) whichopens downwardly. The stream of particulate material is divided intothree equal portions by the two dividers (7). One portion dischargesthrough side port (8); the middle portion discharges through center port(18) which is open at the top and bottom of the conduit by the symbol(0) and the arrows; and the other portion discharges from a terminal endport.

I claim:

1. A distributor means for uniformly distributing particulate materialinto a vessel so that the material has a substantially uniform particlesize distribution at each level in the vessel radially from a verticalaxis of rotation of said distributor means, said distributor meanscomprising a bearing means for rotatably supporting a distributingconduit means;

a drive means for rotating said distributing means;

a receiving means connected to and communicating with said distributingmeans to transfer said particulate material from a separate source tosaid distributing conduit means at a controlled proportionate rate; and

said distributing conduit means comprising at least one conduit inclineddownwardly from the inlet end at the connection with the receivingmeans, at least one of said conduits having at least two ports atdifferent distances from said inlet end, each of said ports except aterminal end port having at least one divider to divide a stream ofparticulate material passing downwardly through said conduit into apredetermined number of portions with each portion being a predeterminedportion of the stream and each portion having approximately the sameparticle size distribution as each other portion.

2. A distributor means of claim 1 having at least two conduits connectedand communicating with each other and the receiving means at the inletend of said conduits, said conduits having a divider at the junction ofsaid inlet ends to divide the particulate stream into approximatelyequal portions with the number of portions corresponding to the numberof conduits and each portion having approximately the same particle sizedistribution as each other portion.

3. A distributor means of claim 2 in which the number, length and designof the distributing conduit means are such that the load on thesupporting means is substantially only a vertical force with noappreciable lateral and torque forces.

4. A distributor means of claim 1 wherein the particulate material istransferred from said separate source by an elevating conveyor means.

5. A distributor means of claim 4 wherein the elevating conveyor meanssupports the distributor means.

6. A distributor means of claim 5 wherein the elevating conveyor meanssupports the distributor means and the elevating conveyor means ismoveable to uniformly distribute the particulate material into more thanone vessel sequentially.

7. A distributor means of claim 1 wherein the particulate material is ametallic ore containing copper, uranium, silver or vanadium.

8. A method of uniformly distributing a particulate material into avessel so that the material has a substantially uniform particle sizedistribution at each level in the vessel radially from a vertical axisof rotation of a rotary distributor means, said distributor meanscomprising a receiving means connected to and communicating with adistributing conduit means, a bearing means, a drive means, dividermeans and discharge ports; said method comprising transferring saidparticulate material from a separate source into the receiving means ofsaid distributor means, said distributor means being rotatably supportedby said bearing means; rotating said distributor means by said drivemeans; transferring a stream of said particulate material from saidreceiving means to distributing conduit means at a controlledproportionate rate, said distributing conduit means having at least oneconduit inclined downwardly from the inlet end at the connection withthe receiving means, at least one of said distributing conduit meanshaving at least two dis charge ports at different distances from saidinlet end, each of said ports except a terminal end port having at leastone divider, said dis tributor means having a divider at the inlet ofthe distributing conduit means; dividing the particulate stream at theinlet of the distributing conduit means into a number of portions withthe portions corresponding to the conduits and each portion havingsubstantially the same particle size distribution as each other portion;transferring each portion downwardly along each respective conduit;dividing each portion into portions corresponding to ports in theconduit and discharging each portion from the corresponding port intothe vessel at a preselected distance from said vertical axis.

1. A distributor means for uniformly distributing particulate materialinto a vessel so that the material has a substantially uniform particlesize distribution at each level in the vessel radially from a verticalaxis of rotation of said distributor means, said distributor meanscomprising a bearing means for rotatably supporting a distributingconduit means; a drive means for rotating said distributing means; areceiving means connected to and communicating with said distributingmeans to transfer said particulate material from a separate source tosaid distributing conduit means at a controlled proportionate rate; andsaid distributing conduit means comprising at least one conduit inclineddownwardly from the inlet end at the connection with the receivingmeans, at least one of said conduits having at least two ports atdifferent distances from said inlet end, each of said ports except aterminal end port having at least one divider to divide a stream ofparticulate material passing downwardly through said conduit into apredetermined number of portions with each portion being a predeterminedportion of thE stream and each portion having approximately the sameparticle size distribution as each other portion.
 2. A distributor meansof claim 1 having at least two conduits connected and communicating witheach other and the receiving means at the inlet end of said conduits,said conduits having a divider at the junction of said inlet ends todivide the particulate stream into approximately equal portions with thenumber of portions corresponding to the number of conduits and eachportion having approximately the same particle size distribution as eachother portion.
 3. A distributor means of claim 2 in which the number,length and design of the distributing conduit means are such that theload on the supporting means is substantially only a vertical force withno appreciable lateral and torque forces.
 4. A distributor means ofclaim 1 wherein the particulate material is transferred from saidseparate source by an elevating conveyor means.
 5. A distributor meansof claim 4 wherein the elevating conveyor means supports the distributormeans.
 6. A distributor means of claim 5 wherein the elevating conveyormeans supports the distributor means and the elevating conveyor means ismoveable to uniformly distribute the particulate material into more thanone vessel sequentially.
 7. A distributor means of claim 1 wherein theparticulate material is a metallic ore containing copper, uranium,silver or vanadium.
 8. A method of uniformly distributing a particulatematerial into a vessel so that the material has a substantially uniformparticle size distribution at each level in the vessel radially from avertical axis of rotation of a rotary distributor means, saiddistributor means comprising a receiving means connected to andcommunicating with a distributing conduit means, a bearing means, adrive means, divider means and discharge ports; said method comprisingtransferring said particulate material from a separate source into thereceiving means of said distributor means, said distributor means beingrotatably supported by said bearing means; rotating said distributormeans by said drive means; transferring a stream of said particulatematerial from said receiving means to distributing conduit means at acontrolled proportionate rate, said distributing conduit means having atleast one conduit inclined downwardly from the inlet end at theconnection with the receiving means, at least one of said distributingconduit means having at least two discharge ports at different distancesfrom said inlet end, each of said ports except a terminal end porthaving at least one divider, said distributor means having a divider atthe inlet of the distributing conduit means; dividing the particulatestream at the inlet of the distributing conduit means into a number ofportions with the portions corresponding to the conduits and eachportion having substantially the same particle size distribution as eachother portion; transferring each portion downwardly along eachrespective conduit; dividing each portion into portions corresponding toports in the conduit and discharging each portion from the correspondingport into the vessel at a preselected distance from said vertical axis.